Félix Trinidad

Infobox_Boxer|name=Félix Trinidad, Jr.


caption=Trinidad during a visit to a military facility
realname=Félix Juan Trinidad García
nickname=Tito
height=height|ft=5|in=11|
weight=Middleweight
nationality=flagicon|PRI Puerto Rican
birth_date=birth date and age|1973|1|10
birth_place=Fajardo, Puerto Rico
home=Cupey Alto, Puerto Rico
style=Orthodox
total=45
wins=42
KO=35
losses=3
draws=0
no contests=0|

Félix 'Tito' Trinidad, Jr. (born January 10, 1973) is a Puerto Rican professional boxer, considered as one of the best boxers in that archipelago's history. [cite web| url=http://espndeportes.espn.go.com/news/story?id=518455&s=box&type=story| title=Ahora de celebrar para la leyenda| author=Xochitl Sen | publisher=ESPN Deportes| language=Spanish| date=2007-01-10| accessdate=2008-01-09] When he was an amateur Trinidad won five National Amateur Championships in Puerto Rico. He debuted as a professional when he was 17 years old and won the first world championship in his career when he defeated Maurice Blocker for the International Boxing Federation's welterweight championship. During his career he fought Oscar De La Hoya winning the World Boxing Council's welterweight championship, Fernando Vargas in a unification fight where he won the International Boxing Federation's light middleweight title, and William Joppy for the World Boxing Association's middleweight championship. He lost to Bernard Hopkins, by technical knockout and retired for the first time. Trinidad returned to action in a fight against Ricardo Mayorga and following a fight against Winky Wright retired a second time. In 2008, he returned to the ring to fight Roy Jones, losing the contest by unanimous decision.

Early years

Félix Trinidad was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, to Irma García and Félix Trinidad Senior. [cite web| url=http://www.endiorlando.com/2007/08/16/deportes/113050.aspx?category=Deportes&title=Tito+recibe%C2%A0respaldo+a+medias&artdate=2007/08/16| title='Tito' recibe respaldo a medias| author=Luis Santiago Arce| publisher=El Nuevo Día Orlando| language=Spanish| date=2008-08-16| accessdate=2008-08-27] During his childhood the family moved to Cupey Alto, a subdivision of San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he grew up. [cite web| url=http://www.thesweetscience.com/boxing-article/2052/felix-trinidad-career-facts/| title=Felix Trinidad Career Facts| publisher=The Sweet Science Boxing| accessdate=2008-08-27] Trinidad began boxing at the age of 12 after receiving training by his father, who was a former national champion in the featherweight division. Over the course of his amateur career, Trinidad compiled a record of 51 wins and six losses with 12 knockout victories. During this period he won five Puerto Rican National Amateur Championships, in five different weight divisions (100, 112, 119, 126 and 132 pounds).cite web|title=Félix Trinidad's biography| url=http://www.latinosportslegends.com/Trinidad_Felix_bio.htm| publisher=Latino Sports Legends| date=2004| accessdate=2007-05-22]

Following disagreements with the president of the Puerto Rican boxing federation, Trinidad Sr. announced that he decided to turn his son into a professional boxer rather than wait for the 1992 Summer Olympics. The dispute between the boxer and the amateur federation began when the organization's president insisted that Trinidad move out of the 126 pound division in order to open a slot in the roster of the Puerto Rican National Team that was traveling to the Olympics games taking place in Barcelona, Spain.

Professional career

Trinidad debuted as a professional on March 10, 1990, when he was 17 years old. The fight was against Angel Romero, another debuting boxer in a contest that Trinidad won by knockout in the second round. In the beginning of his career he knocked out nine out of ten his first ten fights, knocking out his first five opponents. At this stage of his career Trinidad competed against more experienced boxers. Among these was Jake Rodriguez, whom he fought on December 6, 1991. Trinidad won the fight by unanimous decision but suffered a injury on his right hand. Following this incident he was inactive for five months while recovering from the injury.

Winning and defending the world title

Trinidad traveled to San Diego, California and defeated the defending IBF welterweight champion Maurice Blocker in two rounds, in a fight card that took place on June 19, 1993, the fight was televised by Showtime. [cite book| quote=Invicto en 19 peleas, con 16 de esos triunfos antes del límite, finalmente le llegó a Tito Trinidad la oportunidad de conquistar un título mundial, cuando retó el 19 de junio de 1993 en San Diego, California, al entonces campeón peso welter de la Federación Internacional de Boxeo (FIB), Maurice Blocker.| title=Rumbo a la Titomanía| author=Luis Santiago Arce| publisher=El Nuevo Día| language=Spanish| date=2008-01-05] Trinidad spent the first two minutes of the fight analyzing Blocker's style; with eleven seconds remaining in the first round, one of Trinidad's punches injured Blocker, who barely survived the round. [cite book| quote=Y tras dos minutos iniciales de estudio, el retador boricua, que subió al cuadrilátero con desbordante entusiasmo, tomó la ofensiva y restando 11 segundos del primer capítulo arremetió con un poderoso derechazo que puso en mal estado a Blocker, quien a duras penas logró completar los tres minutos.| title=Rumbo a la Titomanía| author=Luis Santiago Arce| publisher=El Nuevo Día| language=Spanish| date=2008-01-05] In the second round, the champion's condition appeared to have improved but after the first thirty seconds of the round had passed another of Trinidad punches injured him again. [cite book| quote=Una vez en el segundo asalto, Blocker pareció haberse recuperado hasta que, transcurridos 30 segundos, Trinidad le volvió a llegar limpiamente a la cara con un gancho de izquierda que dejó aturdido al campeón.| title=Rumbo a la Titomanía| author=Luis Santiago Arce| publisher=El Nuevo Día| date=2008-01-05] Trinidad followed with a combination, scoring a knockout at 1:49 in the round when the referee stopped the fight. [cite book| quote=Dos golpes similares volvieron a estremecer instantes más tarde a Blocker, quien recibió un decisivo recto de derecha que lo envió de bruces a la lona, procediendo el árbitro Robert Byrd a detener el conteo y la pelea al 1:49. | title=Rumbo a la Titomanía| author=Luis Santiago Arce| publisher=El Nuevo Día| date=2008-01-05] Afterwards, tournament organizer Don King's exclusive relationship to stage fights for the cable channel Showtime meant that Trinidad would be showcased regularly on Showtime Championship Boxing.

Trinidad defended his title for the next three years against several opponents. Trinidad's first fight in Las Vegas, Nevada was against Héctor Camacho on January 29, 1994. [cite book| quote=Tres meses después de su agónico triunfo sobre Anthony Stephens, llegó la primera gran pelea de “Tito” Trinidad en Las Vegas, defendiendo su título welter el 29 de enero de 1994 frente a su pintoresco compatriota y ex campeón mundial, Héctor “Macho” Camacho.| title=Rumbo a la TITOMANÍA| author= Luis Santiago Arce| publisher=El Nuevo Día| language=Spanish| date=2008-01-07] He was cautious during the first rounds and received a cut over his left eye. In the third round he connected a solid combination that made Camacho change to a defensive stance. [cite book| quote=Tras un par de cautelosos asaltos iniciales, y una temprana cortadura sobre el ojo izquierdo, Tito comenzó a hacer sentir su pegada en la tercera vuelta con un par derechazos que pusieron al “Macho” en retroceso, aunque la velocidad y experiencia del retador parecían confundir al monarca que a mediados de la reyerta parecía olvidarse de la idea del nocáut.| title=Rumbo a la TITOMANÍA| author= Luis Santiago Arce| publisher=El Nuevo Día| language=Spanish| date=2008-01-07] Throughout the fight Trinidad was on the offensive and won the fight by unanimous decision, in what was his first decision since he won the world championship. The scores awarded by the judges were 117–109, 116–110, and 119–106. [cite book| quote=Su sistemático ataque, no obstante, fue suficiente para apuntarse el primer triunfo por decisión en su etapa campeonil, por veredicto unánime de los jueces Glen Hamada (116-110), Mike Glienna (117-109) y Darby Shirley (119-106).| title=Rumbo a la TITOMANÍA| author= Luis Santiago Arce| publisher=El Nuevo Día| language=Spanish| date=2008-01-07]

On September 17, 1994, Trinidad traveled to the MGM Grand for a second straight fight to compete in a title defense against Yori Boy Campas, who had a record of 56-0. In the second round Campas scored a knockdown, the second knockdown in Trinidad's career. [cite book| author=Luis Santiago Arce| title=Rumbo a la TITOMANÍA| publisher=El Nuevo Día| date=2008-01-08| quote=Un corto óper de izquierda de Campas llevó a Trinidad a la lona en el segundo asalto, por segunda vez en su historial, pero se levantó y logró capear el temporal el resto del capítulo.] Following this Trinidad exchanged several combinations, injuring Campas' face and breaking his nose. [cite book| author=Luis Santiago Arce| title=Rumbo a la TITOMANÍA| publisher=El Nuevo Día| date=2008-01-08| quote=De ahí en adelante, Trinidad se fue al toma y dame con el previamente invicto retador mexicano, a quien rompió la nariz y más tarde casi desfigura] In the fourth round, the referee stopped the fight, the first defeat in Campas' career. [cite book| author=Luis Santiago Arce| title=Rumbo a la TITOMANÍA| publisher=El Nuevo Día| date=2008-01-08| quote=Antes de que el árbitro Richard Steele detuviera el combate en el cuarto asalto]

Trinidad's fourth fight outside Puerto Rico or the United States took place on "Estadio de Beisbol" in Monterey, Mexico. Trinidad was scheduled to defend his title against the undefeated Oba Carr. In the second round, Carr scored a knockdown, which was the product of a quick right hand punch. [cite book| title=Rumbo a la TITOMANÍA| author=Luis Santiago Arce| publisher=El Nuevo Día| date=2008-01-09| quote=Esta vez el oponente era otro peligroso retador invicto, el estadounidense Oba Carr y de inmediato demostró sus cualidades con un relampagueante derechazo que derribó a Tito en el segundo asalto, al igual que hizo el azteca Luis Ramón ‘Yori Boy’ Campas en su combate anterior.] Trinidad continued the fight and pursued the challenger, who displayed a quick pace throughout the fight. [cite book| title=Rumbo a la TITOMANÍA| author=Luis Santiago Arce| publisher=El Nuevo Día| date=2008-01-09| quote=Y el cuento se repitió. Trinidad se levantó luciendo en perfectas condiciones, y siguió presionando con insistencia a su rival, que exhibió la prometida buena velocidad de manos y un efectivo boxeo, pero sin lograr alcanzar nuevamente con solidez al campeón welter de la Federación Internacional de Boxeo (FIB).] In the fourth round Trinidad connected a solid punch that injured Carr, and in the eighth he scored three consecutive knockdowns before the referee stopped the fight by technical knockout. [cite book| title=Rumbo a la TITOMANÍA| author=Luis Santiago Arce| publisher=El Nuevo Día| date=2008-01-09| quote=El monarca boricua dio un anticipo de lo que venía con un fuerte derechazo que tambaleó al retador en el cuarto asalto, hasta que a mediados del octavo capítulo lo tumbó con un óper de derecha y una recta. Carr se reincopró pero volvió a caer par de veces adicionales ante el ataque inmisericorde de rectos y ganchos de Tito, hasta que se produjo la intervención del árbitro Robert González restando unos 20 segundos de acción.]

Trinidad spent the next four years defending his title against numerous fighters in bouts televised on Showtime. Among these fights was a defense against Mahenge Zulu, the number two challenger for Trinidad's championship.cite web| author=Luis Escobar| url=http://www.boxingtimes.com/analyses/1998/980403trinidad_zulu.html| title=Trinidad Crushes Zulu| publisher=The Boxing Times| date=1998-04-03|accessdate=2007-08-13] This fight was part of a card that took place on April 3, 1998 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico and marked the first time that Trinidad had performed in the archipelago in five years. Trinidad began the first round by cautiously analyzing the challenger's style, but the round ended with quick exchanges after Zulu took the initiative in the offensive. In the second round Zulu was actively pursuing the champion, but retreated when he received a solid jab sequence. Early in the third round a series of jabs opened a wound on Zulu's mouth, while the challenger's punches were not reaching their target. Trinidad began the fourth round heavily on in the offensive connecting several combinations which hurt the challenger, using this to land more punches in Zulu's head and body. One punch hit Zulu in the jaw, he fell to the floor and tried to rise, but the referee stopped the fight before he could do so.

On February 20, 1999, Trinidad defended the welterweight championship against Pernell Whitaker, winning the fight by unanimous decision in a contest that marked his thirteenth successful defense.cite web| author=Luis Escobar| url=http://www.boxingtimes.com/analyses/1999/990220trinidad_whitaker.html| publisher=The Boxing Times| title=Trinidad Outduels The Master| date=1999-02-20| accessdate=2007-08-13] The fight began with both boxers displaying aggressive styles, which included excessive pushing. In the following rounds both boxers used their jabs most of the time with Trinidad gaining a advantage when Whitaker attempted to attack inside, eventually scoring a knockdown in round two. In the fourth, fifth and sixth rounds the fighters exchanged combinations. Later in the fight both boxers fell to the floor in what were ruled as "accidental slips." On the seventh round Whitaker displayed more offense, trading power punches with Trinidad, but the champion retained control in the fight's tempo during the eight, ninth, and tenth rounds. In the last round Whitaker, with a badly swollen right eye, displayed a purely defensive stance, avoiding his opponent throughout the round while Trinidad continued on the offensive until the fight concluded. The judges gave the champion scores of 117–111, 118–109 and 118–109.

In the spring of 1999, Don King and Oscar De la Hoya's promoter, Bob Arum, agreed to co-promote a mega-fight for the World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation welterweight championships on September 18, 1999 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas. Early in the fight De la Hoya employed boxing to connect combinations while avoiding Trinidad's attacks.cite web| author=Luis Escobar| url=http://www.boxingtimes.com/analyses/1999/990918delahoya_trinidad.html| title="Tito" Triumphs| publisher=The Boxing Times| date=1999-09-18| accessdate=2007-08-13] The second round began with both boxers trading punches but De la Hoya quickly returned to his previous tactic, which he employed in the third round. In the fourth round Trinidad pressured the offense while De la Hoya tried to avoid his punches by moving, both boxers eventually exchanged punches. In the fifth round Trinidad continued in the offensive while De la Hoya attempted to remain on the outside corners of the ring, Trinidad's eye was swollen following a trade of punches. In the sixth round Felix connected a solid right to his opponent's jaw. Trinidad began the seventh round connecting several solid left hooks to the body that affected De la Hoya's stamina. In the eighth round the swelling on Trinidad's eye was reduced and he was able to control the center of the ring. After trading several combinations in the ninth round, Trinidad began to control the fight's tempo in the tenth, countering his adversary's attacks. Thinking that they had an advantage on points, De la Hoya's corner urged him to be conservative, a strategy benefiting Trinidad who became more active in the offensive, connecting several solid combinations. Both boxers continued this pattern in the final round, with De la Hoya trying to slow down the offense while displaying signs of exhaustion, as Trinidad continued to possess control. The judges gave Trinidad a majority decision, with scores of 115–113, 115–114 and 114–114.

Moving to junior middleweight

In 2000, Trinidad vacated the welterweight championships and moved to the junior middleweight division, in order to challenge the World Boxing Association's champion David Reid. Early in the fight Trinidad concentrated his punches on Reid's body, connecting hard punches to his ribs and belly.cite web| author=John Gregg| url=http://www.boxingtimes.com/analyses/2000/000303trinidad_reid.html| title=Felix Pounds Out Win Over Reid| publisher=The Boxing Times| date=2000-03-03| accessdate=2007-08-13] In the second round Reid connected a solid punch to his opponent's jaw, and in the third round scored a knockdown. In the fourth and fifth rounds Trinidad used his jab consistently, gaining control of the fight's tempo in the sixth round. The fight's score was close at the beginning of the seventh round but Trinidad opened the second half of the contest in the offensive, scoring the fight's second knockdown. Controlling the fight in the eighth, ninth and tenth rounds, and opening a cut over Reid's eye. Trinidad dominated the eleventh round, scoring three consecutive knockdowns. Reid tried to close the fight on the offensive but his opponent boxed and countered his attacks. The judges gave scores of 114–107, 114–106 and 115–106, all in favor of Trinidad.

On December 2, 2000, he was scheduled to fight in a unification card against Fernando Vargas, the International Boxing Federation's junior middleweight champion.cite web| author=Luis Escobar| url=http://www.boxingtimes.com/analyses/2000/001202trinidad_vargas.html| title=Relentless Trinidad KO's Vargas in Twelve| publisher=The Boxing Times| date=2000-12-02| accessdate=2007-08-13] The fight began in a fast pace with Trinidad connecting a solid combination that led to his opponent being kocked down. Vargas was able to stand up, but another combination injured him a second time and led to another knockdown. Early in the second round Trinidad was in the offensive but Vargas connected a solid combination at the round's closing moments which opened a cut over Trinidad's right eye. In the fourth round's opening seonds one of Vargas' punches connected on Trinidad's jaw and he fell, marking the eight knockdown in his career. In the fifth round Vargas was in control of the fight's offensive, connecting combinations to Trinidads' body. In the sixth round Trinidad regained control of the fight's tempo that lasted throughout the contest, connecting punches on Vargas' head and left jabs to the ribs. In the eighth, Vargas displayed signs of exhaustion which slowed his offensive while Trinidad then pursued the offense with combinations to the body. This pattern continued throughout the ninth, tenth and eleventh rounds. Opening the final round Vargas was on the offensive, connecting a solid left hook. Trinidad countered the attack with a left hook that made Vargas collapse; Vargas was able to stand up, but was subsequently knocked down for a second time. With Vargas injured, Trinidad continued connecting combinations, until the referee stopped the fight by technical knockout.

Moving to middleweight

Following his fight with Vargas, Trinidad moved up in weight – this time to participate in Don King's middleweight unification tournament featuring IBF champion Bernard Hopkins, WBA champion William Joppy, and WBC champion Keith Holmes. Trinidad was matched with Joppy, whom he defeated by technical knockout in the fifth round of a contest that took place on May 12, 2001.cite web| author=John Gregg| url=http://www.boxingtimes.com/analyses/2001/010512trinidad_joppy.html| title=Trinidad Triumphs TKO's Joppy| publisher=The Boxing Times| date=2001-05-12|accessdate=2007-08-13] Joppy opened the first round on the offensive, but late in the round Trinidad scored a knockdown with a combination of punches that came close to throwing Joppy underneath the ropes. Trinidad subsequently scored a knockdown in the fourth round, during this stage of the competition he was using combinations of left hooks and right punches to the head. In the fifth round Trinidad scored another knockdown, Joppy attempted to continue the fight, but while he was using the ropes to help him stand, the referee stopped the fight. When the contest was over, Trinidad explained his strategy by stating: "I knew he wanted to impose his will, his weight, and I wouldn't let him do it".

The middleweight unification fight between Hopkins and Trinidad was originally scheduled for September 15, 2001, at the Madison Square Garden. On the morning of September 11, terrorists attacked the World Trade Center. Following this incident, the fight was postponed indefinitely. After receiving assurances from Madison Square Garden officials and the City of New York, Don King rescheduled the fight for September 29. The pace of the fight in the early rounds was slow, with each boxer studying his opponent.cite web|author=Steve Gregg| url=http://www.boxingtimes.com/analyses/2001/010929hopkins_trinidad.html| title=Destiny Denied Hopkins Humbles Trinidad| publisher=The Boxing Times| date=2001-09-29| accessdate=2007-08-13] In the second round Hopkins connected some combinations while Trinidad pursued the offensive in the fourth round and both boxers traded sequences of punches. This pattern continued in the fifth round with Trinidad showing a aggressive style while Hopkins relied on jabs. In the sixth Trinidad continued an offensive stance and won the round after trading several combinations. Both fighters continued to exchange punches in the eighth and ninth round with Hopkins connecting three consecutive solid punches. In the twelfth round Hopkins' scored a knockdown, but before the contest could continue Trinidad's father entered the ring, which led to the referee stopping the fight by technical knockout. According to an interview with Bernard's trainer Bouie Fisher, prior to the fight members of Hopkins' team visited the Trinidad dressing room in what is considered a normal boxing custom to watch the taping of Trinidad's hands before his gloves were placed on. The Hopkins camp claimed that Trinidad's hands were wrapped in an incorrect fashion, and threatened to cancel the fight unless they were wrapped correctly.cite web| author=Ike Enwereuzor| url=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/Interview-Fisher.html |publisher=Eastside Boxing| title=The Man Who Trains Bernard Hopkins: Interview With Bouie Fisher| accessdate=2007-09-02] Fisher also stated that the Chief Inspector of the NYSAC insisted to Trinidad's camp that they needed to re-wrap his hands in a correct fashion.

Trinidad was subsequently scheduled to fight against Hacine Cherifi in a contest that he won by technical knockout in the fourth round.cite web| author=John Gregg| url=http://www.boxingtimes.com/analyses/2002/020511trinidad_cherifi.html| title=Trinidad Returns TKO's Cherifi| publisher=The Boxing Times| date=2002-05-11| accessdate=2007-08-13] The event was part of a card that took place on May 11, 2002, and was organized in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Early in the first round Trinidad's strategy consisted of using his jab while Cherifi did not try to directly engage in the offensive. In the last minute of the round a punch by Trinidad hit Cherifi's chin leaving him disoriented, he followed this with a combination and scored a knockdown. In the second round, Trinidad displayed more boxing and was on the offensive by using combinations to the head and ribs. In the third Cherifi landed more punches than in the previous two, but Trinidad relied on throwing left jabs. One of his punches hit Cherifi's liver, followed by a punch to the jaw, making Cherifi fall to the floor. In the fourth, a series of combinations injured Cherifi, who collapsed to the floor twice, forfeiting the fight on the second occasion. Following this contest Trinidad announced his retirement, at the moment leaving the sport with a record of 41 wins, one defeat, and 34 wins by knockout. [cite web| url=http://www.terra.com.mx/articulo.aspx?articuloid=96882| title='Tito' dice adiós al boxeo profesional| author=Marvin Fonseca| publisher=Terra| language=Spanish| date=2002-07-02| accessdate=2008-08-26]

Coming out of retirement

Trinidad announced a comeback on March 2, 2004. On October 2, 2004 he fought against Ricardo Mayorga, in Madison Square Garden.cite web| author=Luis Escobar| url=http://www.boxingtimes.com/analyses/2004/041002trinidad_mayorga.html| title=Trinidad Returns To KO Mayorga| publisher=The Boxing Times| date=2004-10-02| accessdate=2007-08-13] Early in the first round Mayorga was on the offensive connecting several combinations, later in the round Trinidad connected some punches to his opponent's face. Mayorga reacted defiantly while lowering his defense, which Trinidad used to continue the offensive during the closing seconds. In the second round he continued connecting with combinations to Mayorga's face which caused him to bleed from his nose; the round concluded with both fighters exchanging punches. In the third round Mayorga attempted to counter with punches to the body but did not do significant damage to his opponent, however later in the round one of these punches made Trinidad lose his balance and touch the floor with one glove which the referee counted as a knockdown. In the fourth round both boxers traded hard combinations. In the fifth Trinidad displayed control of the offense's tempo injuring Mayorga and opening a cut under one of his eyes. This pattern continued in the sixth and seventh round, and the cut on Mayorga's face began to swell. In the eight round Trinidad scored several knockdowns, Mayorga continued after two knockdowns, but lost by technical knockout following a third knockdown. On May 14, 2005, Trinidad competed against Winky Wright, in a fight where the winner would become the World Boxing Council's number one challenger in the Middleweight division. Wright won the fight by decision, receiving scores of 120–107 and 119–108 twice by the judges.cite web| author=John Gregg| url=http://www.boxingtimes.com/analyses/2005/050514wright_trinidad.html| title=All Wright All Night Over Trinidad| publisher=The Boxing Times| date=2005-05-14| accessdate=2007-08-13] Trinidad's fighting style appeared to be out of rhythm in the first round, while Wright presented a defensive stance and relied on jabs. During the first three rounds Wright was in the offensive scoring with jabs. On the fourth round Trinidad connected a solid combination. In the sixth, Wright continued the strategy used in the previous rounds while Trinidad employed a strategy where he tried to neutralize his opponent's punches by standing in front of him. In the later rounds Trinidad tried to take the contest's offensive but his adversary managed to block most of his punches while continuing his previous tactic. In the twelfth round Trinidad pursued Wright while trying to score a knockout, but his opponent boxed away from him until the round ended. Following this fight, Trinidad retired temporarily, after his father informed him that he would not continue in his corner. [cite web| url=http://www.elporvenir.com.mx/notas.asp?nota_id=8027| title= Trinidad se retira por segunda ocasión| publisher=" El Porvenir S.A"| language=Spanish| date=2005-05-17| accessdate=2008-08-26]

Trinidad came out of his second retirement for the fight against Roy Jones, a former four-division champion on January 19, 2008. According to the contract, it was to be at a catch weight of 170lbs; and was broadcast live on HBO Pay-Per-View.cite web| url=http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=2972977| title=King: Jones Jr.-Trinidad fight about 'two legendary fighters'| author=Dan Rafael| publisher=ESPN| date=2007-08-22| accessdate=2008-08-26] The card took place at Madison Square Garden in New York city.

Trinidad began the fight on the offensive and won the first two rounds. The third and fourth rounds were won by Jones who relied on the velocity of his punches.cite web| url=http://www.primerahora.com/noticia/boxeo/acciondeportiva/pierde_tito_trinidad/149358| title=Pierde "Tito" Trinidad| author=Lester Jiménez| publisher=Primera Hora| date=2008-01-20| accessdate=2008-01-20] This pattern continued in the fifth and sixth rounds. In the seventh round, Jones scored a knockdown following a right hand. Following this Jones continued to use his speed while Trinidad pursued the offensive, in the tenth round Jones scored a second knockdown after landing a combination. The judges declared the fight a unanimous decision in favor of Jones with scores of 117–109 and 116–110 twice.

Personal life

Félix Trinidad was born in Fajardo, Puerto Rico, to Irma García and Félix Trinidad Senior. During his childhood the family moved to Cupey Alto, a subdivision of San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he grew up. His future wife, Sharon Santiago, lived in Cupey and first met Trinidad in the home of her neighborhood friend, a classmate of Trinidad's. [cite book| quote=Soy también de Cupey y mi vecina se graduó con Tito, de cuarto año. Mis papás me dejaban estar mucho en casa de mi vecina y así fue que nos conocimos, aunque mi mamá creía que Tito era novio de mi amiga, de mi vecina.| title=“Está regresando porque es su pasión”| publisher=El Nuevo Día| author=Luis Santiago Arce| date=2008-01-07] Trinidad pursued a relationship with Santiago, including an attempt to impress her with his red Ford Mustang.cite book| quote=Él fue el que me ‘sonsacó’. Yo lavaba el carro de mi mamá y él pasaba acelerando y tocando bocina. Tenía en aquel momento un Mustang rojo. Yo miraba así bien inocente (risa), pero nada que ver, hasta que él siguió insistiendo con ayuda de mi vecina y después estuvimos casi cuatro años de novios antes de casarnos”.| title=“Está regresando porque es su pasión”| publisher=El Nuevo Día| author=Luis Santiago Arce| date=2008-01-07] He continued to press for her affection and, with the help of Santiago's neighbor, Trinidad was able to win her over. Early on, Santiago's mother thought that Trinidad was related to her daughter's friend, but she realized the true situation when she visited the friend's house and he acted nervous in her presence. [cite book| quote=Mi mamá se dio cuenta un día que, casualmente, fue a la casa y se le sentó al lado a Tito, que empezó a sudar y se puso bien nervioso. Ahí, mami se dio cuenta que había algo raro y después, al tiempo, todo el mundo se enteró.| title=“Está regresando porque es su pasión”| publisher=El Nuevo Día| author=Luis Santiago Arce| date=2008-01-07] Santiago's father objected to the relationship because Trinidad was an athlete; at the time many athletes had a negative public image. [cite book| quote=Al principio fue difícil. Primero porque Tito era deportista y papi me decía que no quería que yo me casara con un deportista por la mala fama que tienen muchos deportistas.| title=“Está regresando porque es su pasión”| publisher=El Nuevo Día| author=Luis Santiago Arce| date=2008-01-07] Santiago became rebellious, but Trinidad eventually won her family's trust.cite book| quote=Yo me puse un poquito rebelde, hasta que por fin, Tito se ganó a toda la familia y todo salió bien”.| title=“Está regresando porque es su pasión”| publisher=El Nuevo Día| author=Luis Santiago Arce| date=2008-01-07] The couple was married four years after they began dating and have had four daughters. [cite book| quote=Dentro de ese contexto, y sumado el acuartelamiento del ‘Team Trinidad’ hace un par de semanas en un hotel fuera del área metropolitana, han dejado otra vez a la ex empleada del sector turístico y de una agencia de publicidad a cargo de un sinfín de tareas hogareñas, en especial del cuido de sus cuatro hijas (Ashley, Leysha, Alayah y Larysha), sin olvidar las visitas en vacaciones de Alondra.| title=“Está regresando porque es su pasión”| publisher=El Nuevo Día| author=Luis Santiago Arce| date=2008-01-07] Trinidad has a fifth daughter, named Alondra Nicole, from another relationship. [cite web| url=http://www.eldiariony.com/deportes/detail.aspx?Id=1315330| title=Miguel Cotto combatirá contra Branco| publisher=El Diario| language=Spanish| accessdate=2008-01-09]

Professional championships

Ring Magazine's Fighter of the Year

See also

*List of famous Puerto Ricans
*Afro-Puerto Ricans
* List of boxing families
* List of boxing triple champions‎
* List of Puerto Rican boxing world champions
* Ring Magazine's list of the 80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years

References

External links

*